Overview

Doing Business in Colombia 2017 is the fourth in the series of Doing Business in Colombia studies. It benchmarks business regulations and their enforcement in all Colombian states (departamentos) represented by their capitals. The report measures regulations that affect 4 stages in the life of a small or medium-size business: starting a business, dealing with construction permits, registering property and paying taxes. This edition reflects changes to the methodology of Doing Business implemented since the previous benchmark in 2012.

 Where is it easiest to do business in Colombia?

Main Findings

• Doing Business in Colombia 2017 updates the results of 21 cities benchmarked in 2012 and creates baseline data for 11 cities presenting for the first time a national diagnostic on the ease of Doing Business.
• Colombian entrepreneurs face different regulatory hurdles depending on where they establish their businesses. In Colombia, is easier to do business in Manizales and Pereira. These two cities remain at the top since 2008 and continued reforming. Bogota, advanced gradually since 2010 reaching the third place.
• The gap between the best and worst performing cities is considerable. In starting a business and registering property the report finds a relation between the ranking and the size of the city, with smaller cities lagging on regulatory simplification.
• Between 2013 and 2016, all cities except for Ibagué and Santa Marta advanced to the frontier of best regulatory practices. Valledupar, Cúcuta, Leticia and Pereira made the most progress. Valledupar advanced the most, reforming in 3 of the 4 measured areas.
• There is still room to streamline business regulations and procedures for entrepreneurs. Promoting the convergence towards best local practices, encouraging peer to peer learning and continue improving the coordination among entities would strengthen the business enabling environment in the country.